Fitting for mops



Oct. 18, 1932. E. H. TATE FITTING FOR MOPS Filed Dec. 17, 1930 Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE EDWARD H. TATE, or MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS a I FITTING FOR MOPS Application filed December 17, 1930. Serial No. 502,970.

This invention relates to a mop of the selfwringing type. It is an object of the invention to form the fitting which is secured to the lower end of the mop handle in such a way as to facilitate the application and removal of the cleaning member which forms a part of the completely assembled mop. In the construction of mops of this type the cleaning element (such as rags, rope yarns, etc.) is supported between a pair of loop members, one of which is rigidly attached to the mop handle, the other being attached to a tubular grip loosely mounted on the mop handle by which the cleaning member may be 16 twisted to wring the mop without the necessity of touching the cleaning element itself. According to the present invention, an improved assembly for the lower loop is provided by which the mounting and removal 20 of the cleaning member is facilitated.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the description thereof which follows and to the drawing, of which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a mop embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-t of igure 1. 7

Referring to the drawing in detail, the mop may include a handle 10, the lower end of which carries a ferrule 11.v The ferrule in turn supports a loop member 12 which engages one end of an elongated fibrous cleaning element 13. The further end of the cleaning element may be supported by a somewhat similar loop member 14; carried by a tubular grip 15 which slides on the handle 10, and may be rotated thereon to stretch and twist the cleaning element 13. Each of the loops 12 and 14 may be made of a single piece of stiff Wire or rod which is bent to suitable shape as indicated in Figure 1. As the two loops are preferably of identical shape, the detailed description of one will serve for the other as well.

The loop member 12 for example, has a portion bent into a small loop or U-shaped sharply away from the ferrule as at 22 and is reversely bent as at 23 to extend past the portion 20. This U-shaped portion is gripped by the lower portion 21 of the ferrule 11 which projects below the end of the handle 10. In manufacturingthis portion of the mop, the small loop of the loop.. member 12 is thrust into the'lower end of the ferrule 11, whereupon this lower end portion is pressed substantially flat, as indicated in Figure 4, so that the loop 20 is pinched between the walls of the lower portion 21-of;- the ferrule and is firmly gripped thereby. This loop or U-sha-ped portion 20 has along leg and a short leg projecting from the lower end of the ferrule 11. The long leg is bent end of the ferrule so as to form atransverse portion 24: which normally; engages the cleaning member 13.. The end of the long leg of the loop 20'is' bentback as at25 so as to cooperate with the bend 23 in holding the end of the cleaning member 13 in place. The shortprojectingleg 26 of the loop 20 is bent sharply at 27, this short leg extending across the flattened end of the ferrule iii and abutting the bend 22 of the long leg.

' The short leg 26 thus forms a closed rectangle with the looped portion 20, three sides ofthis rectangle being enclosed and gripped by the flattened portion 21 of the ferrule. Both projecting legs preferably lie in the plane of the flattened portion 21 of the fee rule. When a cleaning element 13 is mounted onthe loop 12, the looped end of the cleaning element is threaded over the end portion 25. es of the loop 12. The cleaning element then is pushed laterally until the entire looped end has passed over the hook formed by the bend 25. The short leg 26 presents a smooth surface to the cleaning element and PIGVGlliZS gfill it from catching on the lower end of the ferrule. In like manner the short leg 26 presents a smooth surface to the looped end of the cleaning element 13 when the latter is removed from the loop 12, thus facilitating the mounting and removal of the cleaning element. The lower portion 30 of the grip member 15 is similarly flattened to grip the looped portion of the loop member 1 1, this loop member having a shape identical with the loop member 12 so that it functions similarly when the cleaning element is mounted. upon or removed therefrom.

I claim:

1. A fitting for a mop handle, which comprises a ferrule adapted to be attached to the end'of said handle, said ferrule having a portion projecting beyond the end of the handle, and a loop member supported by said projecting portion, said loop member consisting of a piece of stiff wire, one end portion of which is bent into the shape of a closed rectangle, said projecting portion of the ferrule enclosing and gripping three sides of said rectangle.

2. A fitting for a mop handle, which comprises a ferrule and a mop-holding loop member, said ferrule having a tubular portion to receive an end of said handle and a pinched portion gripping a light of said loop member with the end portions of the loop projecting from the end of the ferrule, one end portion of said loop being bent away laterally fromsaid end of the ferrule and in the plane of the bight, the other end portion of said loop being bent across the end of said ferrule.

3. A fitting for a mop handle, comprising a ferrule and a loop member, said ferrule having a tubular portion to receive an end of said handle and a flattened end to grip and support said loop member, said loop member consisting of a heavy wire having a U-shaped portion gripped in the flattened portion of said ferrule, said U-shaped portion having a long leg and a short leg projecting from the flattened end of the ferrule, said long leg being bent away from the flattened end of the ferrule and in the plane thereof, then reversely bent to extend past the end of the ferrule, then bent again to form an inturned end portion, said short leg being bent across the flattened end of the ferrule and in the plane thereof to abut the first mentioned bend of said leg.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

' EDWARD H. TATE. 

